David's son, film director Duncan Jones, confirmed the news and a statement was issued on his social media accounts.

"David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer," it said.

"While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy during their time of grief."

David Bowie's lable only released his latest album Blackstar on his birthday on Friday. The album, which includes just seven songs, has been well received by critics.

Tributes have been paid to Bowie from across the world of entertainment.Brian Eno, who collaborated with Bowie on his albums Low and Heroes, said: "Words cannot express... rest in peace David Bowie".

Rapper Kanye West said: "David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime."

Comedian and actor Ricky Gervais, who convinced Bowie to star as himself and ridicule Gervais in an episode of 2006 sitcom Extras, wrote simply: "I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie."

Comedian and writer Eddie Izzard said: "Very sad to hear about the death of David Bowie but through his music he will live forever."

Bowie collaborator Rick Wakeman wrote on Twitter: "As I'm sure you can imagine I'm gutted hearing of David's passing. He was the biggest influence & encouragement I could ever have wished for."

Will Gompertz, BBC Arts editor

David Bowie was the Picasso of pop. He was an innovative, visionary, restless artist: the ultimate ever-changing postmodernist.

Along with the Beatles, Stones and Elvis Presley, Bowie defined what pop music could and should be. He brought art to the pop party, infusing his music and performances with the avant-garde ideas of Merce Cunningham, John Cage and Andy Warhol.

He turned pop in a new direction in 1972 with the introduction of his alter ego Ziggy Stardust. Glam rock was the starting point, but Ziggy was much more than an eyeliner-wearing maverick: he was a truly theatrical character that at once harked backed to pre-War European theatre while anticipating 1980s androgyny and today's discussions around a transgender spectrum.

He was a great singer, songwriter, performer, actor, producer and collaborator. But beyond all that, at the very heart of the matter, David Bowie was quite simply - quite extraordinarily - cool.And Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I grew up listening to and watching the pop genius David Bowie. He was a master of re-invention, who kept getting it right. A huge loss."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that Bowie was a "great musician, great entertainer", saying he felt "very, very sad" about his death.

David Bowie made secret last trip to London to say goodbye to the city he loved after being diagnosed with terminal cancer

David Bowie made a secret final trip to London to show his wife and daughter the sights and pay an emotional farewell to his home city after being diagnosed with cancer, it has emerged.

The iconic rock star, whose death this week shook the world, lived out his final years in New York, with his wife Iman and daughter Lexi, 15, where he lived the life of a family man.

But shortly after being diagnosed with cancer, he took his family to see the city that made him a star, visiting the Tower of London, the London Eye, and the house where he was born in Brixton.It is thought that he overcame his fear of flying to say his final farewell to the city, where they stayed in the five-star Jumeirah Carlton Tower in Knightsbridge.

However, the trip was kept completely secret from the public - and the star even managed to avoid being recognised while visiting popular tourist sites, despite his and his wife's global fame.

Bowie was born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947, in Brixton, south London, to mother Margaret 'Peggy', a waitress, and charity worker Haywood 'John' Jones.

During the trip 18 months ago, Bowie and his family visited the house where he was born, just minutes away from where thousands gathered to pay tribute to 'Brixton's Own Boy' after news of his death.

The Jones family moved to Plaistow Grove in Bromley, South-East London when he was six, which was also on the itinerary during the 2014 trip of the spots that shaped Bowie's early life.They then visited Foxgrove Road, in Beckenham, where David lived in March 1969 before releasing Space Oddity. Daughter Alexandria, known as Lexi, who was 13 at the time, took a picture of Bowie outside the Beckenham house.

Though his diagnosis was a secret, Bowie's wife Iman revealed details of the trip in an interview in the same year, around the time he was diagnosed.

They flew in on a private jet to Luton airport - better known as a hub for budget getaways - before staying at the Knightsbridge hotel, where rooms start at £300 a night and go up to £1,800. Iman said: 'We went this summer. And no one knew we were there. We flew in on the jet to Luton and every day we went and did different things and the press never knew.'

She talked about how they were able to walk around London anonymously, moving freely without being recognised.

Iman added: 'It's absurd this idea that celebrities can't be anonymous. We even went on the London Eye.'We queued separately, Lexi had a friend with her and they went with the bodyguard and then we all met on board.'

Asked if the teenager enjoyed visiting the city of her ancestors, Iman said: 'Yes! He took her to Beckenham. They went and took a photo outside the house he grew up in.'

The family considered moving to London, according to the supermodel, and even bought a house there, but ended up staying in New York instead. In his young life in London, Bowie formed a number of bands and led a group calling himself Davy Jones, later changing his name to David Bowie to avoid confusion with the Davy Jones from the Monkees.The name was said to be inspired by a knife developed by the 19th century American pioneer Jim Bowie.

In March 1970, he married Angie in a Bromley Registry Office and the pair had a son, Zowie Bowie — a film director now known as Duncan Jones.

A decade later, he split from his wife, reportedly over rumours about his sexuality. Angie, who is currently a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother, has not spoken to the singer for nearly 40 years.

Bowie moved to New York to live with his family in 1993 but he was never forgotten in London, where thousands gathered to pay tribute to 'Brixton's own boy' the day his death was announced.Fans laid flowers down by a mural devoted to the rockstar, who was propelled to international stardom after launching his career in London, and has performed with and written for some of Britain's most respected musicians, including Queen, Elton John, and John Lennon.

So sad. Everyone of us is going there just some sort of "next in line" Well, One of my favorite memories is watching the Bing Crosby Christmas program was back in 1977 with my family. David Bowie was a guest on the show. My dad wasn't much of a fan of his until he heard him sing "The Little Drummer Boy" with Mr. Crosby. H